In the past two years, I have seen God grabbing my heart, humbling me, and making me aware, sometimes painfully, of what my strongholds are and how He wants me to Fully Surrender myself. This has been an amazing journey, and one that is not over. So, although two years have passed, I decided to start a blog about the David-like journey I am on. Looking at the end-game, I want my legacy for my children, my family and my friends to be that I had a heart after God's own heart. That I was in a constant state of forward motion, making progress and growing where God shows me I need to grown.
Stronghold:
Websters: 1.a fortified place
2. a : a place of security or survival
A stronghold is something that our minds take captive. Something our minds won't let go of and perpetually think about.
Satan would love nothing more than to see us stuck in our strongholds. I find it very interesting when looking up the definition of stronghold that is lists it as a place of security. Isn't that just like Satan to trick us into thinking that in our sin, in our self-destructive behaviors, in our anger towards others, in the areas of our lives we cannot give up - smoking, swearing, over-eating, porn, anger, impatience, lust, and the list goes on - we are "safe" there. Either no one will know our secrets or we feel safer there than to discover the real reason WHY we are there.
There is safety in staying where we are. There is safety in not pushing deeper into our lives to figure out why we are the way we are. God's Word tells us though that Satan is the father of ALL lies. The lies you hear, the lies you tell yourself - that you can't change, that it's too hard, that you don't have the strength, that you're a failure, and it's just too ingrained in you - are ALL lies from Satan. And guess what? He's got us in a comfortable spot just believing those lies.
God - in His very gentle and loving way has been taking me by the hand and bringing me out of my safety zone. It's been painful at times, but I have to honestly say, there is no other way I would want to be going in my life.
1 John 4:4 tells us this: "You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
Praise God! Jesus has already won the victory for us. He died so that I might live. When He was beaten, battered, and bruised; when He was hung on the cross to die; when He died and then rose three days later; and when He ascended into heaven, that's when our victory was won! Now we have to be willing to Fully Surrender our lives to Him, here on earth, so that what He did, He did not do in vain.
How do you live Fully Surrendered? I'm reading a fabulous book right now called Living on the Edge : Dare to Experience True Spirituality by Chip Ingram. I highly recommend this book if you are serious about surrendering your life, fully, over to the Lord.
On this 2-year journey, I don't feel like God could have picked a more perfect time to bring this book into my life. It's asking some tough questions that are forcing me to face some truths in my life that I have been hiding behind for far too long. Are you tired of trying hard and feeling guilty? Have you answered life's biggest questions? Have you discovered the real you? Where do you fit in God's family? Do you know God's purpose for your life? Who has hurt you the most? Will you let Christ heal you? Are you ready to see God do the impossible? And so many more! I urge you to get this book, take the time to read it in solitude and allow God to perform surgery on your heart, your life, and wait for Him to answer you in ways that you cannot even fathom.
Jeremiah 29:13 says this: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL of your heart."
Seek God. Pursuing Him and pressing into Him has been life-changing for me. I've been a believer for nearly 20 years now, but never have I sought after the heart of God as much as I have over the last 2 year. There is truth in God's Word. God Word is our Truth!
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." - Jesus of Nazareth
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